Tainted bag BJP tickets

The BJP’s second list in Karnataka gives a clear indication that the party has lost its high moral ground.

The youngest among the infamous Bellary mining ‘mafia barons’ – the Bellary Reddy brothers -- has got the ticket from Bellary City. He was in jail for allegedly trying to bribe a special CBI court judge for his elder brother’s bail. And this despite national president Amit Shah publicly disowning the Bellary brothers, reports CNN IBN.

Likewise, former Karnataka minister Hartal Halappa was recently acquitted in a rape case. The Shivamogga court gave a clean chit to the B S Yeddyurappa loyalist in a 2010 sexual assault case.

Similarly, former minister K Setty was an accused (with Yeddyurappa) in an alleged land scam. Setty, who was a part of the Yeddyurappa cabinet till 2010, had to quit for his alleged involvement in land deals and a housing scam. He was later imprisoned for a few days, along with Yeddyurappa.

Apparently, most nominees in the second list are Yeddyurappa cronies – their loyalty to BSY carries greater premium than their track record. Among these are at least four tainted MLAs who went to jail during the BJP regime. Apparently, their ability to win a seat was the determining factor in the highstake battle.

Three defectors also figure in the list. By not giving tickets to Christians or Muslims, the BJP seems to be replicating its Uttar Pradesh strategy. Like UP, Karnataka has a significant sprinkling of Muslim population, but the BJP, in its own wisdom, has not named a single candidate from the community so far. Apparently, this will lead to a consolidation of Hindu vote, feel party mandarins.